OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Middlebury, VT 05753

Middlebury: median income $91,659, home value $416,900, $258/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbia, SC 29206 91%805$91,847$369,500$215 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Latham, NY 12110 89%91$105,024$340,100$264 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Columbus, OH 43085 89%572$112,517$407,100$227 larger
East Greenbush, NY 12061 88%100$110,962$343,800$264 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 88%624$99,343$417,900$213 larger
Albuquerque, NM 87104 88%1,872$75,436$362,500$273 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Lynchburg, VA 24503 86%552$89,137$347,500$168 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Louisville, KY 40223 86%755$96,607$362,500$179 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · older residents
Mc Farland, WI 53558 86%810$107,609$405,300$253 newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55427 86%996$92,821$360,200$193 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Metairie, LA 70005 86%1,340$89,194$430,200$249 larger · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73116 86%1,414$81,226$321,600$199 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Essex Junction, VT 05452 85%36$101,349$432,400$265 larger
Montpelier, VT 05602 85%35$81,320$360,000$259 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents
Orlando, FL 32806 85%1,161$89,046$441,300$288 larger · 7 min longer commute
Huntsville, AL 35801 85%958$105,585$422,300$205 larger
West Des Moines, IA 50265 85%1,054$85,915$281,800$213 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger
Madison, WI 53716 85%810$91,716$356,800$254 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55431 85%993$101,484$373,500$207 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55441 85%998$101,981$470,100$214 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Omaha, NE 68124 85%1,175$98,750$301,400$185 cheaper homes ($116K less) · older homes
White River Junction, VT 05001 84%45$78,092$296,900$271 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Greendale, WI 53129 84%746$95,012$311,800$231 cheaper homes ($105K less) · 6 min longer commute
Duluth, MN 55811 84%941$79,804$321,000$228 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Lenexa, KS 66215 84%1,165$88,232$338,800$189 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · more renters

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.

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